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Justice News

Tonawanda Man Sentenced To 20 Years On Child Pornography Charge

CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX: (716) 551-3051

BUFFALO, N.Y. - Acting U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that David Barraclough, 32, of Tonawanda, NY, who was convicted of possession of child pornography, was sentenced to 240 months in prison and lifetime supervised release by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary Catherine Baumgarten, who handling the case, stated that on November 12, 2014, the defendant was charged with endangering the welfare of a child in violation of New York State law. While in custody related on that arrest, two individuals began cleaning out Barraclough’s apartment so that it could be rented to another tenant. The two individuals discovered a thumb drive above a door jamb in the defendant’s bedroom and contacted the Tonawanda Police Department. Officers took possession of the thumb drive along with an Android tablet belonging to Barraclough. A forensic analysis uncovered 238 images and five videos containing child pornography.

The Android tablet also contained multiple sexual conversations that occurred via “Kik” and “ooVoo” applications between the defendant, using the screen name “lordxavior,” and a young girl (the Minor Victim). The Minor Victim was 14-years old at the time Barraclough communicated with her. During the conversations, the defendant described performing oral sex and having intercourse with the Minor Victim and sent the Minor Victim a sexual photograph. The Minor Victim also sent pictures and videos of herself to the defendant.
On March 4, 2010, the defendant was convicted in NYS Supreme Court of possessing a sexual performance by a child and endangering the welfare of a child and sentenced to time served and 10 years probation.

On December 1, 2010, the defendant was convicted in NYS Supreme Court for failing to register as a sex offender and sexual misconduct. Barraclough was sentenced to 12 months in jail.

The sentencing is the culmination of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Adam S. Cohen; the Town of Tonawanda Police Department, under the direction of Chief Jerome C. Uschold III; and the City of Tonawanda Police Department, under the direction of Chief William Strassburg.